LisaB Ozark
Well-Known Member
I just knew that the results were going to be something terrible - something that I could have prevented.
Basically this mare did not drink enough to go with all of the grass she ate. She had 8-10 feet of green grass blockage. There was absolutely nothing we could have done. She ate herself to death.
I am incredibly anal about water for all of my horses. All tanks are cleaned and filled daily. The horses have free choice salt and minerals and on fridays they get salt and minerals in their grain.
So here is the kicker - we have had a lot of rain this year and the grass is damp so apparently the horses do not have the need to drink - like they should. There is nothing anyone could do. The old adage - you can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink is certainly true in this situation.
It is so sad. I spent the night with this mare - we walked in the moonlight, grazed a little and cuddled a little. Then she would head back to the stall where she wanted to drink - it was like she knew she screwed up and should have been drinking more. We would stay in the stall and I would rub her all over and then she would put her butt towards me and I would rub and scratch it - she loved that. Then she would turn around and have her head rubbed and she loved to give kisses. I got lots of kisses last night. We did that all night - I wish it would have been enough.
Sometimes even when you do everything right - things still happen. Now I have to just accept that. To all of you that have been in the same situation - god bless you !!!! It is awfully hard to accept.
Thanks for all of the prayers - you are an awesome group !!!
Lisa
Basically this mare did not drink enough to go with all of the grass she ate. She had 8-10 feet of green grass blockage. There was absolutely nothing we could have done. She ate herself to death.
I am incredibly anal about water for all of my horses. All tanks are cleaned and filled daily. The horses have free choice salt and minerals and on fridays they get salt and minerals in their grain.
So here is the kicker - we have had a lot of rain this year and the grass is damp so apparently the horses do not have the need to drink - like they should. There is nothing anyone could do. The old adage - you can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink is certainly true in this situation.
It is so sad. I spent the night with this mare - we walked in the moonlight, grazed a little and cuddled a little. Then she would head back to the stall where she wanted to drink - it was like she knew she screwed up and should have been drinking more. We would stay in the stall and I would rub her all over and then she would put her butt towards me and I would rub and scratch it - she loved that. Then she would turn around and have her head rubbed and she loved to give kisses. I got lots of kisses last night. We did that all night - I wish it would have been enough.
Sometimes even when you do everything right - things still happen. Now I have to just accept that. To all of you that have been in the same situation - god bless you !!!! It is awfully hard to accept.
Thanks for all of the prayers - you are an awesome group !!!
Lisa
